In a year when most of the major movies set to hit cinemas have been delayed or released online amid the Coronavirus pandemic, one big blockbuster held fast: Christopher Nolan’s Tenet. The filmmaker’s latest all-original head-scratcher made good on its summer release, thrilling and baffling audiences in equal measure with its time-inverting set-pieces. And while it made a sizeable sum at the box office, for all kinds of reasons it didn’t hit as big as it likely would have done in any other year – pulling in $347 million worldwide, $293 million of which came from non-US audiences. From a reported $200 million-odd budget, the film likely hasn’t recouped its costs yet – and in the wake of its release, several other movies have been further delayed.
Speaking on the release for the first time, Nolan himself said he’s “thrilled” at Tenet’s box office takings in such extraordinary circumstances, but criticised the way the industry has responded to its performance. “Warner Bros. released Tenet, and I’m thrilled that it has made almost $350 million,” he told the Los Angeles Times. “But I am worried that the studios are drawing the wrong conclusions from our release — that rather than looking at where the film has worked well and how that can provide them with much needed revenue, they’re looking at where it hasn’t lived up to pre-COVID expectations and will start using that as an excuse to make exhibition take all the losses from the pandemic instead of getting in the game and adapting — or rebuilding our business, in other words.” He added: “Long term, moviegoing is a part of life, like restaurants and everything else. But right now, everybody has to adapt to a new reality.”
For now, cinemas across England are closing as the country heads into a second lockdown – and it’s currently unknown whether places will be able to re-open beyond 2 December. If so, the final month of the year might still see the release of Free Guy and Wonder Woman 1984 in cinemas. Here’s hoping cinemas can bounce back in the near future – for now, read Empire’s guide on how you can help your local film venue right now.